Ticket-stringing apparatus



TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1929 v 14 Sheets-Sheet l WJMW I June 11, 1935. J. F. GRABER TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Deb. 1o, 1929 14 sheets-Sheet 2 .Mmm

Illll'! INVENTOR M im? BYM June ll, 1935. 1 F. GRAL-:BER 2,004,163

TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. l0, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 )June 11,1935. I l, JfRAEBER 2,004,163

TIGKT STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR @gmk-@1mi ATTORNEYS June Il, 1935. .1. F. GRAEBER 2,004,163.

i TICKET STRINGING' APPARATUS Filed Deo.- 10, 1929 14 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR June 11, 1935. d F GRAEBER v 2,004,163

TICKET S-TRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1o, 1929 v 14 ASheets-shew, 6

Y .Iuhe 11, 1935. J. F. GRAEBx-:R

TICKET' STRINGING APPARATUS` Filed Dec. l0, 1929 14 VSheets-Sheet 7 -INV NTOR MK'MV ATTORNEYS VJune 1l, 1935. y 1 F GRAEBER I 2,004,163

l TICKET TRINGING APPA'RATUS Filed Dec. 1o, 1929 '14 sheets-sheet 8 fo 09 35 j@ l I@ 19 12.70000 0000 ulm",

INVTOR y 1 BYi TTORNEYS June ll, 1935.

J. F. GRAEBER TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1o, A1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Z7 1007 Z009 163A,

A ORNEYS Jne l1, 1935., J, F. GRAl-:Bl-:R

TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. lO, 1929 bf/@aj 14 Sheets-Sheet lO AAI Yr 199 193% 1 i a e ggg/Z.

zo? 10g SQ 105 zo? g@ i e @L e f* IlI Hllwi June 1l, 1935. J, F. GRAEBER 2,004,163

TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 I [30 *Z950 v 1132 +1] i@ f1 f1 H a M H 05. Z

-Il "ggy/ o INVE TOR VNU? WJATToRNEYa June 1l, 1935. J. F, GRAEBER t TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 19294 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVE TOR E. BY l @r www ATTORNEYS Mm?. M, z/

June ll, 1935. J. F. GRAEBER 2,004,163

TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 ENTOR ym/O, M l V ORNEYS AJune 1l, 1935.

J. F. GRAEBER v 2,004,163

TICKET STRINGING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Dec. lO, 1929 tion.

Patented June 11, 1935 'UNITE-io rllhis `invention relates toapp'ivratus `for `applying strings to tiekets'and has .for an object 'the .provision of apparatus which will apply strings .to a plurality or strips of tickets simultaneously, which will operate easily and effectively anddo its Work Withoutmarring thev tickets.

features of novelty will be apparent'from thefolvlowing description ofl an illustrative embodiment .l of therinvention When considered'in connection -with the accompanying drawings in which 1 Figure l is aftop plan View;

Figure Z-is a front elevation Figure 3 isa right side elevation; Figure liis a left side elevation; Figure 5 is, airear elevation; Y f Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section. taken f approximately on the line E-6y ofy Figure .1;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal vertical-sectionta-ken approxrnatelyon the line 'l-lot Figure 1;

Figure 8 is aftransverse vertical-section-taken on the line 8--3 of Figure 6; n,

`Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6;

-Figure.v l@ .isf a horizontal section takeny on the .line :l 0-10 ofl Figure 9;

iiFigure llzzisxan interior elevation :partly in Alsectionwtaken approximatelyon theline AI l-.-I| :Lof AFigures '7;:and `13;

e: Figure .12 is a-tra-nsverse vertical section :taken .fr Figure 1311s; a. horizontal f. section taken. ron f the tion on the line N+1 lzof Figure 1 but showing the parts at a diierent stage of operation.

V'.Figure 15.is a partial ,longitudinal vertical section takenonthe line. .l5- 15, `of. Figurer 8.,.but showingl the parts at a different. stageof .opera- Figureolis a partial longitudinal Vertical `sec- :tion Itakenfon the line t6-fnf Figure l;

- :.knotters employed `in the apparatus.

"1Z0-L28 VofFigurel'l but with the spindle rotated slightly. f l i Figure v12l Vis al vertical-section ytaken onf `the Iline "f 'Figure'f22 is anelevatiorrofA the-Gam taken'ion tightly fdown upon Llthe: slides.

f grasp" the tickets.

@the .line parallel: with but .behind '.the .line l J+2 I 1-ofFigure`17. l

`*Theapparatus-employed herein is adapted tol `insert strings through the endsof.- each` of. a strip AAAof tickets'.- such: asgprice'tags-and :the dike. uThe 5 fstringsare intended for attaching the individual vThe venumerated and various other objects. and 1^ ltickets when separated ffrom `the Estripto articles The present mechanismgin performing-'this servuiceof applying strings tol aplurality oftioketsin a Astripv utilizes thej'following operations. ln.' namling these operationsthere is1nointentionto-. limit J5 the apparatus to suchwexaet-operationbut Ithe same is given merelybyv-Way Aof Yfully explaining the exemplary apparatuswwhiohlhas 1 been ychosen for description. i l The tickets are plaoed-in a-stackbetwneen verti- 20 Gal 'guidesfini the4 machine. f `Beneath l-this -stack operate`` slidesqwhieh` have suction openings in their topf-surfaces and i `duet leading therefrom i through which fairmaybevexhaustedto a suction pump. l"Ihe slides when `moved `backbeneath the 25 stackuftickets"pullthe lflovverrnost ticket 'strip rIvhereafter the slides move forward together with the/ticket strip g laidhering v` thereto v to 1 push vit forward; V`beneath a "rowof needles. The needles `ins'ertgstrings through e30 partially madef -holesthe tickets -and grippers disposedbelowthe table top graspthe ends of the fstringslas the-needles start to Withdraw. Ihe -feedfs1ide`s thenretract-vand aticket clamp which previouslyL had :'been' raised by; a-wedge member 135 traveling-Y With the slides is allowed to drop to During -the downward movement of? theE needles the strings are prevented vstring gripper-Which binds the `strings against 1110 When the needles have beenraised again a :45

vplurality of` strip grippers rdisposed on a swinging pull frame move over-towardvthe needles u and -grasp the-tickets. `The pullfrarne then moves away from-the needles carryngfwithit the strip of tickets causing the strings `to lengthen by being "50 pulled out through the needles from a'source jof supply, thelower endsof the strings at this time being held by the -lowerstring g-rippers. -When the Vpull frame has moved back to its extreme position rmeans associatediW-iththe pullirame 555 place a loop in each doubled strand of string at-f tached to the tickets. In connection 'with'the knotters, there is an upward swinging bar for raising the strings in front of the knotters. VThis causes the rear end of the strings Vto be caught in the jaws of the knotters which open during their rotative movement for the purpose. At about this time scissors sever the strings behind the knotters and as the loop is formed the pull frame moves toward the knotters to allow slack for same. After the knots have been formed the Y pull frame is moved forward away from the knotters so as to tighten the knots, the ends of the f severed strings being still held in the jaws of the knotters. Shortly after this,` the knotters release the strings and ticket strip grippers on the pull frame open to release the strips. Then a sweep swings downward along the front of the machine between the pull frame and the knotters tothrow the strip of tickets out of the machine. In this operation the string attached tothe ticket on one .end-ofv the strip is pushed downward in a groove or space between two plates and supports the strip of tickets along with other strips which have previously been stringed. l

:In general, and according to Figures 3 and 4 the apparatus comprisesfa base 20 supporting a main frame 2|, a front frame 25, and toward its rear end supporting drive and control mechanism. The mainframe includes a table 22 and the front frame includes spaced columns `26 vconnected at the top by a head 21. The driving means comprises, as shown in Figure l, a suction motor 3@ connected independently to a source of power and utilized for driving a suction pump 3| (see also Fig. 3) vthrough a belt 32 and armain drive motor 35. f The main motor 35 isprovided with a control boX 35 lwhereby it may be started and stopped and, if desired, its speedregulated. Through a belt 37 the main motor drives ya worm shaft 38 having a `worm meshing with and driving worm d gear 33 secured upona stub shaft 4D mounted in bearing bracketsV 4| secured toY the base 2.

Mountedupon the `main frame of the machine [there isr a short jack shaft 42 provided with weighted hand wheel 43; The stub shaft 40 and the jack shaft 42 are provided with keyed pulleys if? and 55 respectively, and idler pulleys 46 and il fast on the stubshaft and loose on the jack Yshaft respectively.r A belt 48' forms the power transmitting medium between the two shafts.

Still referring to Figure 1 the jack shaft is provided with a pinion 53 driving a gear wheel 5| fixed on the main shaft 52. As viewed in Figures V3 and 6 the main shaft rotates in a clockwise direction AIt constitutes the principal origin of motion for thevarious parts` of the machine. The main shaft drives a secondary shaft 53 in its own direction of rotation (Figures 3, G and 7) throughsprockets 55 and 56 on themain and secondary shafts, respectively, operatively connected by a sprocket chain 58. An adjustable tightener 59 is securedl toy the base of the ma Ais attached a wedge 89.

chine in position for Va roller Si) .thereon to be pressed against one span of the chain.

As viewed in Figure 8 the main shaft carries (from left to right) a string lift cam 5|, a knotter rack disc 82, a needle cam St, the secondary shaft drive sprocket 55, a pull frame cam E5, a feed slide eccentric 66, a bevel gear 6l supplying power to the scissors, a lower-string-gripper cam 68 and an upper string-gripper cam S9.

As shown in Figure 2 the secondary shaft 53a' is providedat a distance from each end with a pair of toggle arm cams 'il for operating the tang restorers, at the right end with av sweep Y cam 72, at about the center with a pull frame cam 'i3 and to the right of this with a strip gripper cam 14; Y Y

Feed slides Referring to Figures l and 6 the channelshaped vertical guides i3 are adapted to hold a stack of ticket strips. 'Beneath this stack of strips two spaced slides Sii for opposite ends of the strips operate. lThe slides have suction openings 8| at their front ends and on the upper Y surface thereof.v These openings are connected to ducts 82 which may be formed as bores insideY the slides butin the present instance are merely` formed as grooves on the lower side of 'thek slides. Y l

As shown in Figure 6 the ducts 82 are closed toward their rear ends by strips 83 secured to the under surfaces of the feed guides. A nipple 84 connected to the duct 32 is rigidly mounted on each slide and is connected by flexible tubes 85 with the suction pump so that suction may he created at the openingsl` at all times.

The slides are retained firmly upon their` guidewaysby a guide-wedge 8B having set screws 8? which serve to hold the slides upon the table sufficiently tight jto prevent leakage yfrein the ducts 82. As shown in Figures l and 3.3, the slides are connected by a crossplate S8 to which As shown inl Figure 7 the wedge is employed to lift a ticket clamp strip later to be described. Y

Toward their rear ends the slides are provided with depending lugs 9| operating in slots 92 formed in the table. YTo these lugs connecting rods 93 are attached by pins 94. At their other ends the rods are connected by pivot pins 95 to rocker arms 9% secured upon a rocker shaft di. Alsorsecured to the rocker shaft (see also Fig. 5) is a slotted arm 38 connected by an eccentric rod 99 with the eccentric 66 secured on the main shaft.

Ticket clamp String inserting needles In Figures 6 and 11 there is shown a plurality `of needles |05 secured to a needle-bar |65 eX- Vtending across the frame and guided by vertical rods lill secured at their lower ends tothe table and braced at their upper ends by a tiebar |08 rigidly connected to and moving with lthe strands.

the needle-b'ar-v-IUIi;- The' needles maybe indi` vidually secured to the needle-barllil by clamps |09 and clamp screws H0; I The needles in the present instance are tubular andthe strings pass through them. "Strings are fed to the' upper ends of theneedles from several sources cfsupply (see Fig. 2) through a plurality or" tubes III clampedto a plate '|I2 supported upon column H35 7 I i f As Vshown Figures '6, `9 land-11, the needle barat each end carrie'sa pin I I5`engaged' by arms I'I loosely mounted "(see also Figure 13) to a transverse shaft ||1 mounted in bear'Y ings I I8 secured to the top of the table.

One of the arms--the leftV in `Figure V13`is ex`- tended across the shaft to form an operating arm I I9. As shown in'Figure 6 there is connected to this arm by a pin ahcam rod |2| extending through fthe Ltable toward the` main shaft and carrying upon its -lower `end a" cam roller |22'y operated by the annular cam 64 secured tofthel face of a rack disc 62 f see also F'igure8)l `secured uponf the main shaft.4 Uponla pin projecting from `the'side of the cam rod is a presser arm |24. The presser arm is pivoted at its real' end to a bracket |25 depending 'fromther rear edge ofthe table and intermediate its length is attached to a coil spring |26 for urging it downward. l l

Upper string gripper At certain times, as when the needles are descending and when the knotters are tying the strings, it is necessary to hold the upper end of Means .is therefore provided for gripping `the strings being fed inward to thefneedlesl The upper stringgripping mechanism consists, as seen in Figures 6, 11 andflS of a gripper bar |30 located. immediately above `the upper ends of the needles. The bar is slidably mounted upon curved rods I3| extending downward from the tie bar |08, and coil springs |32 mounted on these rods normally press the gripper bar downward into engagement with the upper ends of the needles in such manner that the strings are grippedV between the bar. and the needles.V y c At certain times it is necessary to'release the .incoming parts of the strings sormeans is provided for lifting the gripper bar from the needles. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the front ends of lever |34 engage the Aends of the gripper bar |30. i These levers are rigidly mounted (see Figure 9) on the outer'ends of the shaft ||1 and are additionally connected together'A so as to `act inunison (see also'liigurel) by a cross bar |35 connected to their rear ends. They are operated (Figs. 13 and 16) by a crank arm 136` rigidly secured to one of the levers, which crank arm is actuated by a gripper cam rod |31 pivoted at |38 to the end of the crank arm and provided at its lower end with a slot I 39 embracing a bearing sleeve mounted on the main shaft beside the cam 62?. At one end of the slot the push rod is provided with a cam roller I 4|, for engagement by the cam tc raise the gripper bar.

It will be noted from Figure 16 that the cam 69 is of such a length and is sc disposed on the main shaft that the string gripper will be lifted from the needles when the needles are rising and during such time as the strings are being pulled out to form lengths suitable for the tickets by the ticket pull grippers, later to be described. Further, the cam may be adjusted on the main shaft to regulate the timing of the string gripper.

Thelower strng gripper After the needles have pierced the tickets and carried thefree 'ends of the Vstrings below the table top, it is necessary to have the Vends'ofthe strings held while the needles retract and also while the length of strings is being pulled out by the ticket f eed gripper. f s

,The mechanism for accomplishing this isbest shownin Figure 15. A vplurality ofgripper fingers are` mounted on a correspondingnumber of armsIlIS secured to a gripper shaft ,I41. The fingers are urged upwardly `towardthe lower surface ,of the table by ,springs` |48 connected to the rear ends of the fingersV and to the IgripperA arms |46. `All of the arjms are operated together' by an arm Mil-rigidly securedto the shaft |41 and operated by a cam push rod |50. This push rod is slotted at its lower endias at ,|5| to em.

`brace the main shaft and at one end of the slot is provided with a cam roller |52 adapted to be en?! gaged and periodicallyoperated by the cam 68 adjustably mounted on the main shaft. The arm |49 is constantly urged downward by a coil spring |54. The gripperfingers |45 engage the loose ends ofthe strings beneath the tablefand press them. against arfside plate |55 `ofthemain,

frame. `The cam is .so shapedas to cause `the strings to be gripped for approximately afhalf revolution of the main shaft what less. J It is necessary to grip or perhapsv so'me tri strngs'b'y triisincnanism continuously after the, needles ,have irlserted them through the tabletop untilends are" cut off by the scissors afterfthe knotshave been formed. It is found more practical to use separate gripper .fingers for each needlefandstring than a single `barY extending, `aCross the machine to grip `all of the strings "together because `with the separate grippers aknotor other inequality inone string will not prevent the grippers from properly holdingv the otherfstrings. v.

Y Scissors Means is providedfor severing the strings to'-` Ward the end of the knotting operation when the tickets are ready for removal from the machine. rIfhis means comprises aplurality of scissors, best shownin Figs. 11 and l2; The scissors comprise fixed blades formedby a series of projections upon the "upper edge of a plate I6| rigidly secured to the `main frame. Cooperatingv with these projections is `a plurality of movable scissors blades |62 pivoted to .the plate IBI by pins |63 `and all connected at their lower ends` for simultaneous and collective' operation to a gang bar |64 by pins |66.

As shown in Figure 9; an operating lever |65A is pivotedtothe gang bar |64 and is oscillatable about a pvot formed by the extended enlarged end of one of the pins |66. The lever is operatively connected to a cam pushrod' |61 by apin |68; The otherend ofthe push rod is provided with a slot |69` embracing a scissors shaft |10.` Adjacent each end of the slot` thefcam rod is provided with cam rollers |1| and |12 adapted to be operated by a cam` |13l rigidly secured to the shaft |10. As shown'in Figures 6 and 7, this shaft |10 is mounted in a long bearing |14 securedon the frame and is provided at its rear end `with a bevel gear |15 drivenby thebevel gear 61 on the main shaft.

It is to be noted that the arrangement of op erating parts for the scissors is such that at the proper time the scissors are given a quick movement to cut therstrings and remain in this posi-f 30.. ing each revolution of the main shaft the arcuate yrack comes into contact with `the gear' |9| and tion until ay 'flateri time: whenzfthey are quickly moved to an ,open position. The friction of parts is suiicient toholdthe-s'cissorsin the position to which they are moved.

1K notterls there' are twelve knottersl corresponding to the r twelveV ticketsA ofjthestrip.

The knotters comprisevertical Yspindles ^|80 mounted in spaced-bearing plates |8 I, |82 and |83 secured' tothe main frame. The spindles are driven Vthrough 'gears' |84 fast' thereon meshing 3 in pairs (Fig. '10) with gears |85" on stub 'shafts |86'mountedin the lower bearing plates |83 and- |83a. yAt their lower ends the stub shafts; six in number, are providedwith bevel'gears |81. mesh# ing with bevel gears |88Y on` a transverse shaft |89 mounted inbearings |90 secured to the main frame." Atone endtheshaft v|39 is provided with afgear |9| which, as best 'shown in Figures 6 and 14, is adapted to be vdriven at intervals by an arcuate gear rack v| 92 secured upon the periphery ofthe disc '62 fast on the main shaft. Once durrotatesjthe knotter spindles' through one revolution. Torinsure. meshing of' the gears toavoid i clashing andvbreakage of teeth the (see Fig. 14)

discfZ. carries member |93 whichcomes into contact with an arm |94" fast on the gear shaft |89; 'These partsrsta'rt the 'shaft' '|89' turning at exactly the proper'time to .mesh'thegearsL vrAttheirxupper ends' the knotter spindles, as.

shown especially inFigures 13 and 17 'tol 22,.are provided with spiral beaks |95 comprising (Fig. 20) upper jaws |96 andf'lower jaws |97. The

' lowerjawis normally urged. against .theupper by a` coil spring |98 and-.atintervals is pulled away from the upper .jawby reason. of. a. cam block |199 riding. under.. an arcuate cam 200. secured to the bearing plate 8|. The action of the cam opening v.the jaws will.. bequiteapparent, from Figures 17 to 22 and theperiod atwhich .the jawsy open will. be explainedglater. inconnection with the operation-.of them-achine. The spindles start froma .position of restin-whichthe beaks Y point towardthe .front of the.rnachine,..asshown, in Figure 17 andafter rotation end up inabout the same position or if they do not stop .in this position. due to the action ofthe driving elements, they will be pulled to thisv positionby .the strings whenthe tags.V are removed from the .machine The-string Zeftbcw'y Y I Cooperating with the knotters (Figs. 11. :and 13) is a notched string liftbar. 205 disposed in front of theY knotters as by being'mountedon swinging Yarms 206 secured to the .main-framesbypivot bolts 201. Oneof the .arms (Fig. 11) vis provided with an'integral extension 208 tov which is pivotably attachedia link 209. -Adjustably-secured to the lower end .of the-link by adjustable collars 2| 0 is a tting 2| fprovided (seeFigurel 14) vwith anV actuating pin 2|2.

As shown in Figure 14 a lever 2 |3.is Vconnected to the pin 2|2 and-to a'xed pivot 2 I4: secured in a bracket 2`|5 attached to thei'main frame. At

: itsrearendthe lever 2 |3 is' provided with a cam roller 2161: adaptedto ber` actuat.ed;by the short cam- 6L securedv .ftothefmainshaft. 2A spring 2|1 normally urges the fronti end of theflever 213 upwardfto .keep theliftbar in a lower position but upon actuation bythe cam the bar is lifted upward'y and =to the right, as Viewedin Figure 11, `so asvfto lift.' the stringswhenthe knotter has completed partof a revolution to Vcause the ends thereof to align withanddrop between the jaws of thebeak ofthe .knotten The' action of the knotterzwill beclearlyunderstood from the above description` by -those =skilled in the art; and need notbe considered further here `butwill later be considered 1inl connection `with the related operation of the-:several parts of the machine.Y

Ticket pullframe Means lis provided for moving'the ticket grippers, shortlyv to be described, from aposition near ythe mainframe where they grip the ticket strips to, an. oif 'position where tang-restoring members are located. This' means comprises, as shown in Figures'2, 6 and '7- a pull frame-including (Fig. 2)

three spaced,r curved-bars 220 svvingably mounted upon aA pull frame shaft 22| extending transverse` ly-of. the. main frame. Y

|I-hev pull frame has` two swinging movements rst backward movement the. frame pauses longr enoughV to allow the tangrestorers to operate. The second outwardmovement ismerely suiiicient to tighten the knots in the strings to get the pull frame 'spaced away fromthermain frameV so that the sweep `can operate between the two frames and remove the ticket strip.

' In orderV toV accomplish these two movements it is found most convenient to employ two separate and distinct actuating means for the pull frame.

The rst means,'as shownin Figure "l, for. accomplishing the .longer movement-comprises a connectingl `rod 222v pivoted to the pull frame at `one endy and to arslotted arm,223rat=the other The'rst movement. of the frame end. .The'slotted-1armconstitutes -pa-rt of a bell crank'lever pivoted..upon a transverse rod 224.

The othery arm 2251of the bell vcrank lever carries aca'rn roller 2.2%` at its Vouter Vend adapted to cooperate with the cam: 65 on the main shaft. A strong springV 228 urges the armrv 225 upward and as a consequence vtends tomaintain theeed frame in a position adjacent the needles on the main frame at all times when it is notpositively urged away from' the-main frame by other means, Yone of whichvhas just been described as including the cam 65 and related parts. i

Alternating in action with the frame actuating meansA just described is another 'means which gives Vthe' second or shorter movement to the frame. This means which is also shown in Figure '7, comprises a cam arm 230 formed rigid with theV pull frame which extends into proximity to the secondary shaft 53. The end of this arm is provided with a camroller 23| adapted to be operated by the cam 1.3,.mounted on .the secondary shaft.

lever for this purpose.

Strip .grz'ppers As shown in Figures 7 and 13, the strip grippers comprise fixed jaws 235 (in the presentmachine, three) rigidly mounted onthe pull frame vand movable jaws 236 (also three) pivotedupon-bearing pins 231 at the top of each of thepull frame bars 229. The upper or movable jaws 236 are provided with a ,cross-bar carrying a plurality of projectinghooked fingers 238 adapted Vto engage behind the rear edges of the ticket strips. The ngers 238 `of the ticket grippers, asl shown in Figure 13, are disposed in alignment betweengthe needles of the machine not only for a purpose or" clearing the needles but for the purpose of presenting the needle-pierced portion of the tickets to the tang restoring means.

Referring to Figures 6 and?, the movable jaws 238 of the gripper are actuated bypush rods 239 pivoted lto extending ends of the jaws and connected at theirlower ends by pivots 240 to oscillating arms 24| pinned tothe pullframe upon a rock sha-ft 292. Another arm 243 carriesa cam roller engaged by the curved arm 244 of a cam lever 295. The cam lever is pivoted upon a journal 246 secured in the upper end of the pedestal 241 mounted on `the base of the machine. The cam lever is curved at its lower end to cooperate with the cam 14 mounted on the secondary shaft, a cam roller 248 being provided on the end of the cam rIt will be noted from Figure 7 that the curved cam 244 is formed as an arc of a circle concentric with the pull frame pivot 22| when the cam roller is riding upon a concentric portion of the cam4 14. By this arrangement the cam lever holds the jaws of thestrip Vgrippers openbya constant Width while the pull frame is oscillating during such time as the concentric portion of the cam 14 is acting upon the cam lever.` Araised portion 14a of the cam, however, is made sufiicientlyhigh to open the jaws more than normal vwhen the tang restoring punches operate and' the stripis released for removal. Springs 249 disposed'between a xed part of the frame and the movable v jaws of the strip grippers serve to keep the jaws.

closed except when positively opened.

Leaf springs are provided on the pull frameadjacent the gripper "jaws for holding the strips rmly against the hooked ends` of finger 238 and for expelling the ticket strips from the jawsv when released. These springs are relatively light and are pushed back by a fixed part of the main frame when the gripper Ajaws move forward to engage a strip.

Tang restorers lIf, the tickets employed have clear holes through` them for the strings the mechanism now to be cle-4 scribed is not required. rBut if no clear holes are In Ythe present instance particular reference will'- be made to tickets having V-shaped cuts wherein the needles push out from each ticket a single V-shapedtang- When these tangs are pressed back tinto: the plane of the tickets at least two desirable resultsare accomplished. First, more writing surface is provided on the tickets` than would be` if clear Vhole'swereused and second, the tangs grip theL strings and cause them tomaintainthe; strings in adenite relationship Vwith the tickets sothe tickets maybe readily passedthrough apparatus.

such as printing machines which .perform a subsequent operation onthe tickets. i

' This mechanism is. best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and `7. Noting especially Figure 7, there are a plurality-one for each ticket-of anvil levers 289 pivoted on rock shaft 26| (discontinuous for gripper jaw movement) supported by depending brackets 262.

tionsy of the levers 230 are a corresponding number of punches 293 mounted on a punchbar 264.

slot and sleeve joints 212 and are held in proper Vspaced relation by a cross-bar 213. The arms 21| are providedwith cam `rollers 214 through which the toggle arms are operated by the cams 1| on the secondary shafts; v Y

'Ihe punch bar is connected by guide rods 216 with an upperbar 211,` the` outwardly protruding ends ofv which are attached to -pushrods 218 attached at .their lowerends to the sleeves forming part of the slot and sleeve points 212. The rods o are guided by brackets 219 secured to the base and are constantly urged upward by springs 289 pressing against the brackets 219 yand the ad justable collars 28| on the rods.

` Sweep iThe. means for removing tickets strips from the machine comprises, as shown in Figures l to 4, a sweep 28.5` mounted upon an oscillating shaft.

286. The sweep issuiiicientl'y longnto reach across the fullplength of a ticket strip andbrush it Afrom between the main frame andticketgripper jaws when completed. `The heel of the sweep Aengages the string of thevend `ticket and pushes it into the groove or Aspace281 between plates 288, 289 se-y cured byrscrews andspacers 299 to aboard 29| attached to the main frame.4 The groove is flared at its receiving end and the sweep is speciallyshaped to engage the string, which is disposed near the mouth of the groove, to sweep it thereinto. AThe knots of the strings of the end tagV ofV each strip, are disposed on the opposite side of Cooperating with the anvil porthe plates 288, 289 from the ticket strips and thus support the strips for sliding movement along the Y groove. `The `strips may .be removed from the outerend ofthe groove. in required amounts.

As best shown in Figuresll and 13` the sweep shaft 288 is attachedby a nut 292 to a guideY member 293and the hub of the sweep is rigidly attached `,to a pinion 294, `both the gear and sweep being loose on the shaft.

`Referring to Figure 11, a rack 295 is slidably mounted in the guide member 293 so as to actuate the pinion 294. Atits upper end the rack is attached to an operating rod 296 extending downward (Fig. 16) into operating relationship with the sweep cam 12 on `the secondary shaft. To guide the rod, a slot 291 is provided on its lower end embracing `the secondary shaft. A cam roller 298 mounted above the slot cooperates with the cam' 12. A coil spring 299. attached to an arm 300 adjustably mounted on the rod and to a'Xed part of the main frame tends to keep the roller 298 in engagement withthe cam-and the sweep in its normal raised position.

Counting mechanism As seen in Figures 1 and 3 the main shaft carries at the right-hand end a vworm 385 driving a worm gear 306 rotatably mounted on a shaft 361. The shaft is rigidly attached to a bell bracket 3R38 and at itsV outer end supportse'a bell 309.V A bellv striker 31D is pivoted upon a pin 3H and (Figure 5) is urged downward by a springr3l2. A trip l cam V3|3 attached to the striker and positioned in the path of a cam pin 3I4 actuates the striker once for every given number of revolutions of the main shaft, which is also an indication of the number of ticket strips produced since a complete cycle is produced by each revolution of the main shaft. N

Operation In Vdescribing the operation` attention will be l focused upon the ticket strip, which willbe folfeed slides and at the next forward movement ofl the slides will be'pushed forward. The rear edgel of the-strip which is cut or notched for passage of the needles comes directly beneath them. The

- wedge 89 raises the clamp strap il!! to permit the lstrip to move forward. V'Iheiingers ID3 on the strap prevent return lInovementofA the strip with the suction feed slides when the 'wedge again lowers the strap and'flngers; t

While the ticket strip isheld `bythe feed slides in this forward position` the needles IE5 vare moved rapidly downward to'pierce the Vtickets and carry rthe string ends through them. seen in Figure 6, the needle operating camfroller |22 at this timerides up on the highest portion of the needle cam 64 to push the ends of the needle below the lower surface of the frame table 22. i

The ends of the strings protrude some distance below the ends ofthe hollow needles and the lower gripper fingers |45 sweep across the under surface of the table after needles have moved up slightly (see the lowered-cam surface of cam 64 in Figure 6) and grip the string ends by pressing them individually against the frame side plate |55. Referring to Figure l5, the cam 68 holds the lower grippers in this position until knots have been tied Vin the strings.

During the downward movement of the needles the upper string gripper bar i3() grips the stringstightly upon the upper ends Aof the needles topull out more length from the source of supply. When the needles are againvin their highestA positionv the gripper 430 is raised to'allow the strings to be pulled out through the needles from the source of supply. VThe cam 69 (Figure 16) willthen beA inproper position to accomplish this. The grip# 4per is held in raised position until the ticket grip pers on the pull frame have pulled'the strings 'out tothe full length required. Compare theV position on the main shaft of cam 59 in Figure 16 which holds the upper string grippers in more gripping position and cam in Figure .which hold the pull frame in the position remotest from 1the needles. 1 Y

During the time the needles are moving upward the pull frame with the ticket grippers is moving toward the needles. pull frame cam roller 23H is about to ride off the high partvof cam.13rto allow the frame to move l toward the needles under the action of spring 228.

Referring to Figure 7, the ticket gripper jaws remain open until the frame is up to the needles and the jaws have embraced the ticket strip. Then the jaws close upon the ticket strip due to the'cam roller 2158'riding off the Yhigh position of cam 'i4 on the secondary shaft. Note from the positionof the needle cam 64 in Figure 6 that the tickets are gripped while the needles are down through Vthe tickets. The ticket gripper jaws thereafter remain closeduntil the strips are ready for removal from the machine. Y

The cams 65 on the main shaft next moves the .pull frame to extreme position away from the needles. In Athis position the cams 1i push the toggle arms downward to bringrthe punches 263 and anvil levers 268 together to restore the tangs tickets. I Y Y While the tickets are still held in oi position the needles Amove down a slight distance to place the string `strands in the path of the knotter beaks. Note the long moderately raised portion of theY needle cam 64 inFigure 6. The knotter spindles are started into operation by the arcuate rack |92 on main shaft 52 coming into engage- Note (Figure 6) that the pushed out by the needles into the planes of the ment with the knotter'actuating pinionV iQi, as-

sociated parts H93, |94 already described being active at this time for absorbing shock to prevent breakage of the gear teeth.

Asv the knotters begin to rotate to form loops in the strings the pull frame begins to move toward the knotters |95 the other ends of the strings still being held by the upper and lower string grippers to give `slack to the double strands of strings. Y

,During the time the knots are being formed the string lift bar 205 is appropriately moved by the cam 6I to cooperate with the knotters. Also toward the end of the movement of the knotters the scissors are-'operated by the scissors cam |13 to sever the'gripper-held ends of the strings.

Finally the pull frame retracts from the knotters to pull the knots tight. Then the ticket gripper jaws open and the sweep moves downward across the. stringV strands to pull them from the jaws of the knotters and remove the ticket strip to the suspension groove as already described.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference to one specific embodiment thereof it is to be understood that no limitations are imposed thereby and'that the invention is only to be measured by the scope of the subioined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for Stringing a plurality of ticke of va strip of tickets'comprising in combination, means for moving a'strip of tickets to an operating position, needles for inserting strings in saidA tickets at operating position, means gripping said strings to said needles on downward movement to pull out strings from a source of'supply, means for gripping the ends of said strings when inserted through said tickets, means including a swinging frame and ticket grippers for grasping said strip and pulling it away from said needles..

means for actuating said frame to move it a maximum distance from said needles means for restorV ing tangs made in the tickets when the frame is in extreme off position, means for tying knots in 

